HOW do YOU know you NEED GOD?

 

Proverbs 11:2

King James Version

2 When pride cometh, 

then cometh shame: 

but with the lowly is wisdom.

How do you know you need God?

As born again, I'd ask:

"When did we not ever?"

But, if you're not born again, stubborn, vacillating, indifferent, unsure, still on a high, well, let SPIRIT and I count the ways.

We definitely need God when:

We're sad.

We're lonely.

We're lost.

We're confused.

We're stumped.

We're dumbfounded.

We're confounded.

We've been humbled.

We feel defeated.

We're tired.

We're broke.

We've been humiliated.

We've humiliated.

We're angry.

We're depressed.

We're vengeful.

We're proud.

We feel invincible.

We feel superior.

We've got everything. (Or so we think.)

That pretty much sums up the moments we need God.

Being the way we are, we forget God when we're on a high.

When we're feeling low, we begin to remember God.

Such is man's nature.

And yet, we have the nerve to wonder:

Is there a God?

Is He listening?

Is He paying attention?

Why does He allow stuff to happen?

Where is He?

Those are legit questions.

But only a genuine born again, one who LOVES God, who LOVES Scripture, who LOVES doing God's will, who LOVES being obedient, who LOVES being corrected by the Lord, who LOVES being taught by Spirit, who LOVES waiting for the LORD's return any moment now, can understand the ways of the LORD.

Whether we know it or not, whether we admit it or not, without JESUS, we can do nothing.

And that's a fact.

John 15:5

King James Version

5 I am the vine, 

ye are the branches: 

He that abideth in me, and I in him,

 the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing.

Related post:

BORN AGAIN classics

Updated 3 March 2023

Worshiping GOD simply

 

2 Corinthians 11:3

King James Version

3 But I fear, 

lest by any means, 

as the serpent beguiled Eve 

through his subtilty, 

so your minds should be corrupted 

from the simplicity that is in Christ.

In CHRIST is simplicity.

In the world is complexity.

In CHRIST is truth.

In the world is deception.

That's how you know things are of CHRIST.

A child understands Scripture easily.

For he loves stories.

And GOD's stories are TALL, for He is TALL.

Adults have too much of the world in them

That's why JESUS asked we be like children.

Matthew 18:3

King James Version

3 And said, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Except ye be converted, 

and become as little children, 

ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Worship has become too complex, and full of human rituals.

As born again, I live by CHRIST's simplicity.

Here's how JESUS asked us to pray:

Matthew 6:6

King James Version

6 But thou, 

when thou prayest, 

enter into thy closet, 

and when thou hast shut thy door, 

pray to thy Father which is in secret; 

and thy Father which seeth in secret 

shall reward thee openly.

And here's the prayer He asked we pray:

Matthew 6:9-13

King James Version

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 

Our Father which art in heaven, 

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, 

Thy will be done in earth, 

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, 

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil: 

For thine is the kingdom, 

and the power, 

and the glory, 

for ever. 

The Lord Jesus was purposely simple.

He was the STERLING example for all of us.

He always gave GLORY to the FATHER.

Never took credit for Himself.

He was truly GOD's beloved SON!

If the Lord was simple, His gospel was simple, why must our worship of Him be ostentatious?

We are not to bore God with "vain repetitions", as if the Lord can't hear, or know what we need.

Matthew 6:7-8

King James Version

7 But when ye pray, 

use not vain repetitions, 

as the heathen do: 

for they think that they shall be heard 

for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: 

for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, 

before ye ask him.

Worship simply.

Pray simply.

If there be a prayer, let it be of GRATITUDE, instead.

Ephesians 5:20

King James Version

20 Giving thanks always 

for all things unto God 

and the Father 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

In complete trust.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

King James Version

18 In every thing give thanks: 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus 

concerning you.

Related read:

BORN AGAIN articles

On ERRING Ministries

The RIGHT Born Again CHURCH

SPIRIT and the 7 churches

GOD has GREAT humor

 

God is funny,

because we are funny.

The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD teaches us perfectly.

In a way best suited to our character.

Here's how He taught me today.

Starting with a verse:

Matthew 16:4 

King James Version

4 A wicked and adulterous generation 

seeketh after a sign; 

and there shall no sign be given unto it, 

but the sign of the prophet Jonas. 

And he left them, 

and departed.

Wherein, one thing stuck out:

"...and there shall no sign be given unto it, 

but the sign of the prophet Jonas."

Curious, I looked at Jonah's chapter.

And laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

For he was a reluctant prophet.

And God would have none of such nonsense.

He taught Jonah a lesson.

Here's the backgrounder.

God appoints Jonah:

Jonah 1:1-2 

King James Version

1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah 

the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, 

go to Nineveh, 

that great city, 

and cry against it; 

for their wickedness is come up before me.

But Jonah panicked:

Jonah 1:3 

King James Version

3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish 

from the presence of the Lord, 

and went down to Joppa; 

and he found a ship going to Tarshish: 

so he paid the fare thereof, 

and went down into it, 

to go with them unto Tarshish 

from the presence of the Lord.

So, God does something else.

Jonah 1:4 

King James Version

4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, 

and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, 

so that the ship was like to be broken.

And the shipmaster wonders who was responsible.

Jonah 1:7 

King James Version

7 And they said every one to his fellow, 

Come, and let us cast lots, 

that we may know 

for whose cause this evil is upon us. 

So they cast lots, 

and the lot fell upon Jonah.

The whole ship resolves the matter.

Jonah 1:11-12 

King James Version

11 Then said they unto him, 

What shall we do unto thee, 

that the sea may be calm unto us? 

for the sea wrought, 

and was tempestuous.

12 And he said unto them, 

Take me up, 

and cast me forth into the sea; 

so shall the sea be calm unto you: 

for I know that for my sake 

this great tempest is upon you.

Surely, the shipmates couldn't wait to get him off board fast -- in great relief.

Jonah 1:15 

King James Version

15 So they took up Jonah, 

and cast him forth into the sea: 

and the sea ceased from her raging.

Of course, God knew Jonah needed time to think.

Jonah 1:17 

King James Version

17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish 

to swallow up Jonah. 

And Jonah was in the belly of the fish 

three days and three nights.

Jonah realizes he's done God wrong.

Jonah 2:1 

King James Version

2 Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God 

out of the fish's belly,

So he affirms his vow with God.

Jonah 2:9 

King James Version

9 But I will sacrifice unto thee 

with the voice of thanksgiving; 

I will pay that that I have vowed. 

Salvation is of the Lord.

God takes mercy upon Jonah.

Jonah 2:10 

King James Version

10 And the Lord spake unto the fish, 

and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

By now, Jonah's a mess.

And if you think that's the end of the story, there's more:

Jonah 1 

Jonah 2

Jonah 3

Jonah 4

Are you called to God's service?

Have you resisted?

Don't.

Bad idea.

When God sets His mind on you, that's it.

No escaping the inevitable.

I have my own little story to tell.

Maybe in another blog.

Updated 14 December 2022